Topic: Is having a Bible in the classroom a Mount Vernon Teacher's right?

[Steve.Deserved.Better]

I was in the Kenyon Bookstore on Saturday and noticed a book entitled, Freshwater Ecology.


Anyone else think it's a funny title?

 

Did you laugh out loud?       

[seabiscuit]

I was in the Kenyon Bookstore on Saturday and noticed a book entitled, Freshwater Ecology.


Anyone else think it's a funny title?

 

That's hysterical!  What are the chances????!!!!!!

[phred]

I was in the Kenyon Bookstore on Saturday and noticed a book entitled, Freshwater Ecology.


Anyone else think it's a funny title?

 

               plus those poor students majoring in     
                     freshwater ecosystems/biology......

[davidsdaughter]

 
I suppose he'd have something choice to say if someone asked him about that!

[The_Rooster]

I noticed that the Freshwater support websites only update when something breaks their way. 
http://supportfreshwater.com/
http://bibleonthedesk.com/

[wtfreak]

Filing: Fired Ohio teacher improperly sued lawyer
By Andrew Welsh-Huggins
Associated Press

Published on Tuesday, Sep 01, 2009

COLUMBUS: A science teacher accused of burning a cross on a student's arm improperly sued a school board's lawyer as a way to disrupt the educator's firing, a court document alleged.

In a federal court document filed Tuesday, Cleveland attorney David Millstone said he should be removed from the lawsuit filed in June by eighth-grade teacher John Freshwater against Mount Vernon City Schools.

Millstone said he was included in the lawsuit to pressure the school board to settle their attempt to fire Freshwater.

The Mount Vernon school board fired Freshwater last year, citing an internal investigation that found he had preached his Christian beliefs in class. He was accused of using a scientific device to burn a cross onto a student's arm and of keeping a Bible on his desk.

Freshwater argued that other teachers were permitted to keep Bibles on their desks. He has said that he never branded or burned anyone.

A June 9 letter sent by Freshwater's attorney to Mount Vernon attempting to settle the lawsuit contained a "veiled threat" to force Millstone out of representing the school board, the filing said.

"It will be interesting to observe the developments between Mr. Millstone's representation and the interests of the Mount Vernon City School System," said the letter from Freshwater's attorney, Kelly Hamilton.

Hamilton did not immediately return messages left Tuesday seeking comment.

Including Millstone in Freshwater's civil rights lawsuit was wrong because he was simply representing the school board, said Millstone's attorney, Gregory Scott. He has asked a judge to remove Millstone from the lawsuit and award him attorney's fees.

"The claim against Mr. Millstone appears to be a pressure tactic aimed at the administrative process to terminate Mr. Freshwater's contract," Scott said in an interview Tuesday.

In the $1 million lawsuit against the district, Freshwater said his free speech and civil rights were violated.

Freshwater also said he was harassed because of his religion, defamed and suffered from a hostile work environment.

He was ready to settle the lawsuit immediately after it was filed, according to the June 9 letter to the school board's attorneys.

"Mr. Freshwater is ready to get on with his life if the timing and terms are appealing," Hamilton wrote in the letter.

Sarah Moore, an attorney for the school board, said Tuesday she couldn't comment on settlement talks.

COLUMBUS: A science teacher accused of burning a cross on a student's arm improperly sued a school board's lawyer as a way to disrupt the educator's firing, a court document alleged.

In a federal court document filed Tuesday, Cleveland attorney David Millstone said he should be removed from the lawsuit filed in June by eighth-grade teacher John Freshwater against Mount Vernon City Schools.

Millstone said he was included in the lawsuit to pressure the school board to settle their attempt to fire Freshwater.

The Mount Vernon school board fired Freshwater last year, citing an internal investigation that found he had preached his Christian beliefs in class. He was accused of using a scientific device to burn a cross onto a student's arm and of keeping a Bible on his desk.

Freshwater argued that other teachers were permitted to keep Bibles on their desks. He has said that he never branded or burned anyone.

A June 9 letter sent by Freshwater's attorney to Mount Vernon attempting to settle the lawsuit contained a "veiled threat" to force Millstone out of representing the school board, the filing said.

"It will be interesting to observe the developments between Mr. Millstone's representation and the interests of the Mount Vernon City School System," said the letter from Freshwater's attorney, Kelly Hamilton.

Hamilton did not immediately return messages left Tuesday seeking comment.

Including Millstone in Freshwater's civil rights lawsuit was wrong because he was simply representing the school board, said Millstone's attorney, Gregory Scott. He has asked a judge to remove Millstone from the lawsuit and award him attorney's fees.

"The claim against Mr. Millstone appears to be a pressure tactic aimed at the administrative process to terminate Mr. Freshwater's contract," Scott said in an interview Tuesday.

In the $1 million lawsuit against the district, Freshwater said his free speech and civil rights were violated.

Freshwater also said he was harassed because of his religion, defamed and suffered from a hostile work environment.

He was ready to settle the lawsuit immediately after it was filed, according to the June 9 letter to the school board's attorneys.

"Mr. Freshwater is ready to get on with his life if the timing and terms are appealing," Hamilton wrote in the letter.

Sarah Moore, an attorney for the school board, said Tuesday she couldn't comment on settlement talks.


http://www.ohio.com/news/ohiocentric/56645907.html

[harper]

That is a pretty shoddy response from a Squire, Sanders & Dempsey attorney.  I would have expected better since his firm was hired to represent the school board for major bucks.  That is one of the best firms in Ohio, and the Nation....

[Imagine]

Aside from the school board elections, is there anything new of the Freshwater front?

[seabiscuit]

Aside from the school board elections, is there anything new of the Freshwater front?

No, just more stalling......................

    ..............and the beat goes on, the beat goes on................

[dhw]

The school board keeps spending more and more of our tax money.  How soon will they ask for more?

[seabiscuit]

The school board keeps spending more and more of our tax money.  How soon will they ask for more?

PLEEEAASE.........The person spending the school board's money is John Freshwater.  The school has presented their case.  The stalling is being done by the Freshwater camp.  They are not done presenting their case and continue to bring up reasons why they can't proceed.  I believe he is stalling hoping that "his buddies" will be elected onto the school board so that he will get his job back that way.  There are other reasons he may be stalling but I can't go into those.  Time will tell.......................


          and the beat goes on................and on................and on.....................and on.

[wtfreak]

The school board keeps spending more and more of our tax money.  How soon will they ask for more?

How are THEY spending our money??

[wonderin]

Wow perfect timing Imagine!

Teacher can't force school board to testify
Wednesday,  September 30, 2009 11:33 AM
By Dean Narciso

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
The Ohio Supreme Court ruled this morning that members of the Mount Vernon school board don't have to testify in the termination hearing of John Freshwater, the eighth-grade teacher accused of teaching religion in science class and burning students with a laboratory device.

The 7-0 decision did not require an opinion because it is a procedural matter, said Chris Davey, court spokesman.

Freshwater's attorney, R. Kelly Hamilton, had argued that Freshwater would be denied his due process rights to defend himself if school-board president Ian Watson and board member Jody Goetzman weren't forced to testify and produce documents.

School-district attorneys had argued that board members, who must ultimately rule on whether Freshwater keeps his job, were not direct witnesses to his alleged classroom misconduct and shouldn't have to testify.

"We hope the hearing can now move toward a conclusion," said Sara Moore, an attorney representing the school district.

In June, Hamilton filed a motion in Knox County Common Pleas Court to require the board members to testify. But the court ruled it didn't have jurisdiction over the matter.

Hamilton then filed with the Ohio Supreme Court.

Jenifer and Stephen Dennis have testified in the termination hearing that they had discussed various aspects of Freshwater's conduct with the board members Watson and Goetzman.

The Dennises accused Freshwater of teaching his religious beliefs in a public classroom and burning a cross shape on their son Zachary's arm with an electrical laboratory instrument.

The administrative hearing, begun a year ago, has been fraught with delays and scheduling conflicts. Legal costs to the school district have exceeded $300,000. By state law, Freshwater is entitled to a hearing before the district can fire him.

http://www.columbusdispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/09/30/freshruling.html?sid=101

[rabbit]

Freshwater's attorney, R. Kelly Hamilton, had argued that Freshwater would be denied his due process rights to defend himself if school-board president Ian Watson and board member Jody Goetzman weren't forced to testify and produce documents.

Since they have gotten away with their BS, Then Freshwater should be given back his job along with all the lost back pay.

[curious mind]

Sorry guy - the Ohio State Supreme Court just rendered a decision (7-0) that stated that the Board Members DIDN'T have to testify, as Freshwater's attorney tried to force them to do.  Freshwater's attorney was shot down, unanimously..........

Not only should Freshwater be fired, but maybe he, his attorney, and his supporters can be sued to recoup all the hundreds of thousands of dollars they've cost the schools with their own brand of b.s.